NASA's World as Art

December 11, 2012 |By JAKE ELLISON

Earth-observing environmental satellite images

NASA

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Jutting into the Caspian Sea, the Dardzha Peninsula in western Turkmenistan lies among the shallow, coastal terraces in the sea’s southeast portion. Strong winds create huge sand dunes near the water, some of which are partly submerged. Farther inland, the dunes transition into the low sand plains of the Karakum Desert, which covers 70 percent of the country. Landsat 7 captured this image in 2001.

NASA

17of41

Jutting into the Caspian Sea, the Dardzha Peninsula in western Turkmenistan lies among the shallow, coastal terraces in the sea’s southeast portion. Strong winds create huge sand dunes near the water, some of which are partly submerged. Farther inland, the dunes transition into the low sand plains of the Karakum Desert, which covers 70 percent of the country. Landsat 7 captured this image in 2001.